LSU’s Defense Will Miss the Honey Badger

Derick E. Hingle-US PRESSWIRETyrann Mathieu

I know I've bashed Tyrann Mathieu on a few different occasions in the past. But honestly, I was really starting to appreciate the so-called "Honey Badger" just days before the news came down that he was booted from the LSU football team.

Mathieu may have been overrated by the media, and he certainly wasn't deserving of an invite to New York City as a Heisman finalist last year, but you can't deny the impact he had on LSU's defense in 2011.

Sure, he may have been small, and sure, he definitely wasn't a lock-down cover corner, but Mathieu always found a way to be around the ball and make a momentum-shifting play.

Not only will the team have to deal with his departure, it will also have to figure out how to replace NFL draft picks Morris Claiborne and Brandon Taylor—two other starters from last year's secondary.

With so much turnover from last year, the Tigers could definitely experience a drop off in the defensive backfield this season after ranking eighth nationally in pass defense in 2011.

Eric Reid may be the best safety in college football, but new starting corners Tharold Simon and Jalen Collins are certainly going to have some big shoes to fill.

De’Anthony Thomas Will Total over 2,800 All-Purpose Yards

Jason O. Watson-US PRESSWIREDe'Anthony Thomas

No college football player has totaled more than 2,800 all-purpose yards since former Missouri receiver Jeremy Maclin accomplished the feat back in 2008. (Last year's leader, Tavon Austin, finished with 2,574 total yards.)

The player that'll have the best chance of reaching that milestone this season is Oregon's dynamic, dangerous and versatile playmaker De'Anthony Thomas.

Thomas is a true triple threat who can do major damage as a runner, receiver and returner. He proved that last year as a true freshman when he finished seventh in the country with 2,235 total yards (595 rushing yards, 605 receiving yards, 983 yards on kick returns and 53 yards on punt returns).

The speedy 5'9'', 173-pound sophomore averaged a whopping 16 yards per play in 2011, and he scored 18 total touchdowns.

Although he'll have to share carries with fellow back Kenjon Barner this season, you can bet that the Oregon coaching staff will figure out every possible way to get the ball in Thomas' hands as much as they can in 2012.

He's truly a home-run threat who's capable of picking up huge chunks of yardage any time he bursts into the open field.

Aaron Murray Will Rise to an Elite Level

Kim Klement-US PRESSWIREAaron Murray

The future certainly didn't look bright for Georgia last season when the Bulldogs were sitting at 0-2 after consecutive losses to Boise State and South Carolina.

Luckily, however, quarterback Aaron Murray proved that he was ready to be a true team leader, and he rallied his fellow players and helped guide the Bulldogs to 10 straight victories and an SEC East division title.

The 6'1'', 211-pound junior threw for over 3,100 yards and 35 touchdowns in 2011, and he made some major strides after an up-and-down first season as a starter the year before.

Murray now looks like he's ready to rise to an elite level in 2012, and he should have Georgia right in contention for the SEC championship this season.

Marcus Lattimore and Knile Davis Will Both Return to Form

Chuck Cook-US PRESSWIREMarcus Lattimore

South Carolina's Marcus Lattimore and Arkansas' Knile Davis were both expected to challenge Trent Richardson and Michael Dyer for the SEC rushing title in 2011. However, both Lattimore and Davis experienced season-ending injuries that knocked them out of the race.

Lattimore's knee and Davis' ankle will be two of the most scrutinized body parts in college football this year. Nevertheless, if both players are healthy and ready to compete, they should be two of the most productive rushers in the country in 2012.

Both backs have the potential to be high first-round picks in the 2013 NFL draft, and it will be interesting to see just how well they bounce back this season.

Landry Jones Will Have a Season of Redemption

As the face of the No. 1-ranked team in both major preseason polls last offseason, Landry Jones was built up to be one of the early favorites to win the Heisman Trophy.

Many were expecting Jones to lead the Sooners to both a Big 12 championship and a BCS national title in 2011, but he managed to accomplish neither, and a late-season collapse really hurt his once highly-thought-of draft stock.

Jones clearly made the right decision to return to Norman for his senior year. Now, he'll be playing with something to prove after hearing plenty of criticism last season.

Over the last two years, he's completed 64 percent of his passes and combined to throw for over 9,100 yards and 67 touchdowns.

The 6'4'', 218-pound senior has already solidified his status as one of the top pure passers in college football. Now, Jones will be looking to show everyone that he can lead the Sooners back to Big 12 glory in 2012.

Montee Ball Will Regret Returning to Madison

Mary Langenfeld-US PRESSWIREMontee Ball

After rushing for over 1,900 yards, scoring 39 touchdowns and finishing fourth in the Heisman voting last season, Wisconsin running back Montee Ball really had nothing left to prove at the college level.

That's why many simply assumed that he would declare for the 2012 NFL draft as expected and earn millions as a second-round draft pick.

Ball shocked everyone, though, when he announced that he would be returning to Madison for his senior season.

It could be a move that the talented back ultimately regrets.

The Badgers aren't of the same caliber that they were when they rolled through the Big Ten and into the Rose Bowl last season. Plus, it's going to be almost impossible for Ball to replicate the individual success he had as a junior last year.

It's likely that Ball will ultimately regret his choice to not capitalize on his amazing 2011 performance when he could.

Georgia Will Have the SEC’s Best Defense

Kim Klement-US PRESSWIREJarvis Jones

The SEC will be home to some of the most dominant defenses in college football this season.

Teams such as LSU, Alabama, Florida and South Carolina are all loaded with star defenders. But if you're looking for the conference's premier defense, then you're going to have to go to Athens to find it.

That's because Georgia's defense returns nine starters and 12 of the top 13 tacklers from a unit that ranked fifth in the nation in total defense last year.

Nose tackles John Jenkins and Kwame Geathers, defensive ends Abry Jones and Cornelius Washington, linebackers Jarvis Jones, Alec Ogletree and Michael Gilliard, cornerback Branden Smith and safeties Shawn Williams and Bacarri Rambo are some of the best players at their respective positions in the country.

In fact, Jarvis Jones, Jenkins and Williams could each be All-American performers this season.

With so much top-notch talent and experience returning, it's going to be extremely difficult for any opponent to find consistent success against this stacked group in 2012.

Boise State Will Finish 9-4

Christopher Hanewinckel-US PRESSWIREChris Petersen

During coach Chris Petersen's six-year tenure at Boise State, the Broncos have averaged an astounding 12 wins per season, and they haven't won less than 10 games since the 2005 season, the year before Petersen took over.

That type of consistent dominance is simply remarkable, but if ever there was a year that the team could slip back to the pack, this would be it.

The Broncos return just seven starters from last season, including just two on defense. They'll have to replace six NFL draft picks, including first-round selections DE Shea McClellin and RB Doug Martin, as well as legendary quarterback Kellen Moore, who was arguably the greatest player in school history.

With a schedule that includes opponents such as Michigan State, BYU, Southern Miss, Fresno State, Wyoming, San Diego State and Nevada, it certainly wouldn't be shocking if Boise State failed to reach 10 wins in 2012.

There Will Be No Major Scandals

Andrew Weber-US PRESSWIREJoe Paterno

I've grown to really love college football since I decided to give the whole sportswriting thing a shot back in 2010, but the one side of the game that has really bothered me, as I'm sure it has many other fans, is the constant scandals.

Every month, it seems there's a new major scandal plaguing the sport.

Last season started on a terrible note with the messy realignment rumors, and it ended on a much more tragic note with the shocking Penn State scandal.

It sure would be nice to focus on all the great things that are happening out on the gridiron for a full season, instead of all of the disturbing things happening off of it.

The corruption, greed and overall shadiness that has invaded the world of major college athletics over the last decade has simply become overwhelming. Many of the people who occupy the most powerful positions have stooped to new lows to make sure they get as much of the cut of the billions of dollars of annual revenue as they possibly can.

College football's tremendous growth in popularity over the last few years has been amazing to watch, but it's also taken the sport to a breaking point.

With so much money at stake, there will always be rule-breaking. That's just the reality. Hopefully, though, there can be a shift in the collective consciousness within the sport. Hopefully, we can eventually get back to the days when the headlines were about the great teams and players from around the nation instead of about the crooked cheats that represent everything wrong with what the sport has become.

It may be asking a lot, but let's hope that we can survive the 2012 college football season without any major scandals.

Collin Klein Will Be Unstoppable Again

Scott Sewell-US PRESSWIRECollin Klein

"Where the heck did this kid come from?" is a common question that many Big 12 fans were asking themselves last year, as they watched Kansas State quarterback Collin Klein take the conference by storm in 2011.

Klein helped transform the Wildcats from a preseason afterthought into a 10-win, top-15-ranked team.

The athletic dual-threat signal-caller proved to be one of the most dangerous running quarterbacks in the country, as he totaled over 3,000 yards of offense and accounted for 40 of his team's 52 total touchdowns.

With Klein returning, Kansas State will once again be a team that no opponent will want to deal with this season.

The Wildcats are certainly capable of contending for a Big 12 championship this year if they can work out some of the kinks in their passing game.

If you're looking for an early dark-horse Heisman contender for the 2012 season, then Klein's your guy.

Marcus Mariota Will Make Chip Kelly Look Like a Genius

Kirby Lee-US PRESSWIREChip Kelly

Oregon's offense may have lost its two leaders from the 2011 season—quarterback Darron Thomas and running back LaMichael James—but the Ducks should still have one of college football's most explosive offensive attacks.

Michigan Will Be Exposed

On paper, Michigan's 11-2 record from last season obviously looks great, especially since it includes the school's first win in a BCS bowl game since 2000.

But when you dig deeper and look at the schedule the Wolverines faced and realize that they beat just one ranked team in the regular season, it clearly seems a lot less impressive.

Yes, Michigan somehow came away with a victory over Virginia Tech in the Sugar Bowl, but the team didn't even belong there in the first place, and it's a game in which the Wolverines were thoroughly outplayed.

Now, as we turn to the 2012 season, many are pronouncing Michigan as being "back" and ready to contend in the Big Ten under the guidance of second-year head coach Brady Hoke. However, this is a team that could very quickly be exposed as a fraud.

The team's best player, QB Denard Robinson, may be a great highlight-reel runner, but he's a mediocre passer at best, which was evidenced by his Big Ten-leading 15 interceptions and his lousy 55 percent completion percentage, which ranked 98th nationally in 2011.

The reason the team was able to find so much success last season was due to the improved play of the defensive line, but that's a unit that lost three key starters from 2011.

Michigan's schedule is one of the toughest in college football this season, as the slate includes 10 teams that played in bowl games last year.

Alabama, Notre Dame, Illinois, Michigan State, Nebraska, Iowa and Ohio State will all be looking to knock off the Wolverines in 2012, and there's a good chance that Hoke's crew will be exposed as a pretender by the time November rolls around.

Barrett Jones Will Win the Outland and Rimington Trophies

Butch Dill/Getty ImagesBarrett Jones

After making the switch from guard to left tackle for the 2011 season, Alabama's star offensive lineman, Barrett Jones, was on the move once again this offseason.

Jones has now kicked inside to center to fill the void left by the departed William Vlachos. That means that the defending Outland Trophy winner won't just have a chance to be a repeat winner of college football's top offensive line honor; he'll also be in contention for the Rimington Trophy, which is awarded to the nation's top center.

The 6'5'', 302-pound senior could have been a high pick in the 2012 NFL draft had he decided to declare, but instead, he returned to Tuscaloosa to once again be the leader of college football's strongest offensive line.

Utah Will Win the Pac-12 South

One of USC's losses will come at the hands of Utah in Salt Lake City on Thursday night, Oct. 4.

Nationally-televised Thursday night road games have proven to be awfully tricky for highly-ranked teams in recent years, and the Trojans very well could end up being the next victim.

That means that if both USC and Utah end up finishing 10-2, which is certainly possible, that it would be the Utes who end up winning the Pac-12 South instead of the highly-favored Trojans.

While Utah may have struggled in its first season in the conference last year, winning just seven regular-season games and just four league games, it's still a team that will be very dangerous in 2012.

With 16 returning starters, including potential All-Conference standouts such as QB Jordan Wynn, RB John White, WR DeVonte Christopher, DT Star Lotulelei, DE Joe Kruger, LB Trevor Reilly and SS Brian Blechen leading the way, watch out for Utah to challenge USC for a division title this season.

Joseph Randle Will Score More Than 30 Touchdowns

Andrew Weber-US PRESSWIREJoseph Randle

Over the last five years, only one college football player has scored more than 30 touchdowns in a season. That, of course, came last year, when Wisconsin RB Montee Ball scored a whopping 39 total touchdowns.

This year, there are actually a few players who are capable of reaching that tremendous milestone, and the one with the best shot will be Oklahoma State RB Joseph Randle.

In his first season as a starter last year, Randle rushed for 1,216 yards on just 208 carries (5.8 yards per carry), caught 43 passes for 266 yards and finished fourth in the country with 26 total touchdowns scored.

Since QB Brandon Weeden and WR Justin Blackmon have both moved on to the NFL, the supremely skilled 6'1'', 191-pound junior will now become the focal point of Oklahoma State's offense in 2012.

Look for Randle's already stellar production to improve this season, as he has the chance to put up some truly monster numbers.

Texas Will Look Like Texas Again

Christopher Hanewinckel-US PRESSWIREJackson Jeffcoat

From 2001 through 2009, Texas averaged an amazing 11 wins per season. However, over the last two years, the Longhorns haven't looked like the once-dominant force that used to steamroll through the Big 12 year after year.

After a pitiful performance in 2010, in which the team won just five games after starting the season ranked in the top five in the preseason polls, Texas wasn't much more impressive last year, winning just eight games.

The problem has been that after having two of the most successful quarterbacks in college football history—Vince Young and Colt McCoy—running the show, the Longhorns have had trouble finding a stable signal-caller.

Sophomore David Ash has now been handed the reins of the offense, but he definitely doesn't have to be a star in order for the team to win games.

With running backs Malcolm Brown and Joe Bergeron both returning, as well as receivers Jaxon Shipley, Mike Davis and Marquise Goodwin, Ash has the supporting cast he needs to find success.

E.J. Manuel Will Finally Make the Most of His Physical Gifts

Greg M. Cooper-US PRESSWIREE.J. Manuel

As far as pure natural physical ability is concerned, there may not be a quarterback in the country that can compare to Florida State's E.J. Manuel.

Manuel is a former highly-rated recruit out of Virginia Beach who was forced to wait his turn behind Christian Ponder for the first few years of his career, only appearing in spot duty when Ponder was injured.

The 6'5'', 240-pound senior finally got his shot to be the full-time starter last season, and many were expecting him to lead the Seminoles to an ACC championship.

The reality was, however, that Florida State turned out to be one of the most disappointing teams of 2011, finishing just 9-4.

Now, the pressure is on Manuel to make the most of his potential and physical skills and lead his team to the promised land this season.

With his combination of size, mobility, arm strength and accuracy, Manuel has the chance to finally become the star in 2012 that everyone originally predicted he would be when he first arrived in Tallahassee back in 2008.

James Franklin Will Be a Breakout Star

Dak Dillon-US PRESSWIREJames Franklin

In each of the past two seasons, we've seen an athletic dual-threat quarterback take college football by storm. In 2010, it was Auburn's Cam Newton. Last season, it was of course Baylor's Robert Griffin III.

This year's dual-threat QB is Missouri's James Franklin.

In his first season as a starter last year, Franklin proved to be a dynamic and dangerous playmaker, throwing for over 2,800 yards, rushing for 981 yards and accounting for 36 total touchdowns.

The 6'2'', 225-pound junior is without a doubt one of the most talented quarterbacks in the country.

Now that the Tigers have moved to the SEC East, Franklin will have the big stage he needs to show the college football world just how great he really is.

Arkansas Will Disappoint

US PRESSWIREJohn Smith

Arkansas is loaded with talent on both sides of the ball for the 2012 season. The Razorbacks' offensive quartet of QB Tyler Wilson, RB Knile Davis, WR Cobi Hamilton and TE Chris Gragg is one of the most dangerous in the country.

The problem is, now that disgraced former head coach Bobby Petrino is gone, the team will be led by one of the most mediocre head coaches in college football, John L. Smith.

Smith was just 22-26 at his last head coaching stop at Michigan State, and he fits the same mold as late former West Virginia coach Bill Stewart—overall good guy, but just not head-coaching material for a big BCS school.

Arkansas could very well end up being this year's version of Texas A&M. Last year, the Aggies were considered to be a top-15 contender before the start of the season, yet they managed to win just six regular-season games.

Mike Sherman was arguably the worst head coach in college football last season, and it wouldn't be surprising if Smith turns out to be equally as incompetent in 2012.

Arkansas has the talent to compete for an SEC championship this season. However, the Razorbacks just don't have the right leader to guide them there.

Logan Thomas Will Carry the Virginia Tech Offense

Spruce Derden-US PRESSWIRELogan Thomas

It's not often that an offense loses a running back who was a first-round NFL draft pick, its two top receivers and four starting offensive linemen without experiencing a severe drop off in production the following season.

Virginia Tech just might be able to survive all of those departures, though, given that the Hokies have one of the most talented quarterbacks in college football, Logan Thomas, back to lead the offense.

Last year, Thomas showed that he was one of the most dangerous dual-threat quarterbacks in the country, as he totaled over 3,000 yards of offense, accounted for 30 total touchdowns and led the team to 11 wins and an ACC Coastal division title.

The athletic 6'6'', 260-pound junior will obviously miss players like running back David Wilson, who led the ACC with 1,709 rushing yards in 2011, and receivers Danny Coale and Jarrett Boykin, who combined for 121 catches.

Still, if players such as RB Michael Holmes and WR Marcus Davis step up, as well as the new starters up front, Thomas should be able to guide the Hokies back to the ACC championship game in 2012.

Justin Hunter Will Make Everyone’s Jaws Drop

Don McPeak-US PRESSWIREJustin Hunter

Justin Hunter was on his way towards putting together an outstanding sophomore campaign in 2011 before he sadly suffered a torn ACL in Tennessee's third game of the season. After spending months working his way back to full health, Hunter will now re-enter Tennessee's offensive huddle with something to prove in 2012.

Hunter has only caught 33 passes during his college career, but he's shown plenty of glimpses of his enormous potential during his time in Knoxville.

The 6'4'', 200-pound junior possesses simply amazing athleticism and body control for his size, and he has the ability to separate and create game-changing plays when called upon.

If Hunter's knee proves to be strong enough this season, the big, sure-handed receiver has the chance to be one of college football's top offensive players in 2012.

It may not be long before you start to hear first-round NFL draft pick buzz surrounding his name.

West Virginia’s Offense Will Put Up Ridiculous Numbers

It certainly didn't take very long for QB Geno Smith, WR Tavon Austin and the rest of the West Virginia offense to adapt to new head coach Dana Holgorsen's Air Raid-style system.

In Holgorsen's first year in Morgantown, the Mountaineers ranked 15th in the nation in total offense, 13th in scoring offense and sixth in passing offense, as they averaged 469 yards and 37 points per game in 2011.

Smith, especially, proved to be a perfect fit for Holgorsen's offense. Last year, he completed nearly 66 percent of his passes for 4,385 yards and threw 31 touchdowns compared to just seven interceptions.

The scary thing to think about is that the strong-armed 6'3'', 214-pound senior will now return with an even better knowledge and grasp of the offensive scheme for the 2012 season.

With Smith, his explosive receiver duo of Austin and Stedman Bailey and six other starters returning, the West Virginia offense has the pieces in place to do the same things we saw the Oklahoma State offense do in 2011.

While we may not see them score 70 points in a game again like they did in the Orange Bowl against Clemson back in January, West Virginia clearly has the firepower to light up plenty of scoreboards this season.

If their defense can hold steady, the Mountaineers will have the explosive offense it takes to challenge for a Big 12 championship in 2012.

Michael Buchanan Will Be Illinois’ New Star NFL Prospect

Bradley Leeb-US PRESSWIREMichael Buchanan

In each of the past two seasons, there has been an Illinois defensive lineman who has risen up from relative obscurity to become a first-round NFL draft pick. In 2010, it was defensive tackle Corey Liuget. Last season, it was defensive end Whitney Mercilus.

This year, the player that could continue that streak is hybrid defensive end/outside linebacker Michael Buchanan.

Even though Mercilus received most of the publicity for his All-American campaign in 2011, Buchanan actually deserved plenty of praise for his performance last year.

Buchanan has the physical makeup to develop into a coveted 3-4 rush linebacker prospect this season.

The former 4-star recruit out of Illinois' Homewood-Flossmoor High School has the size, explosiveness off the edge and the strength at the point of attack that NFL scouts are searching for, and his name could go flying up draft boards over the next few months.

Braxton Miller Will Have Moments of Greatness and Moments of Awfulness

Greg Bartram-US PRESSWIREBraxton Miller

Braxton Miller is the type of athletic dual-threat quarterback that would seem to be a perfect fit for Urban Meyer's shotgun-based spread offense. However, Miller is going to need some time to develop and learn all the nuances of that system.

After assuming the starting role three games into the 2011 season, the former 5-star recruit ended up having an up-and-down freshman campaign, as he completed just 54 percent of his passes and won just four games as a starter.

Miller may be one of the best running quarterbacks in the country, and he should come up with a few fantastic highlight-reel runs in Meyer's offense this season. However, he still has a long way to go before he becomes a complete game-changing quarterback.

Since Ohio State isn't eligible for the postseason this year, the 6'2'', 210-pound sophomore can treat 2012 as a learning experience. It's likely that Miller will make his fair share of both great plays and terrible mistakes this season.

Auburn’s Defense Will Make a Drastic Improvement

Paul Abell-US PRESSWIRECorey Lemonier

Auburn's defense had to break in a bunch of new starters last season. That inexperience certainly showed, as the Tigers ranked next to last in the SEC in both scoring defense and total defense, giving up 28 points and 408 yards per game in 2011.

Luckily, all of those new starters are now experienced veterans who should form a much stronger defensive unit this season.

Auburn's defense won't be on the same level as the likes of Georgia, LSU, Alabama, Florida or South Carolina. But the Tigers will have enough difference makers at all three levels to make a drastic improvement in 2012.

DE Corey Lemonier, LB Daren Bates and CB T'Sharvan Bell will be the key leaders, but there are plenty of other defenders to watch out for as well, such as defensive tackles Jeffrey Whitaker and Gabe Wright, linebacker Jake Holland and safety Demetruce McNeal.

David Amerson Will Finish with 5 Interceptions

Sam Sharpe-US PRESSWIREDavid Amerson

Last season, N.C. State cornerback David Amerson set an ACC record by picking off an incredible 13 passes.

The 6'3'', 194-pound Amerson showed NFL scouts that not only does he have the type of rare size/speed combination to be an elite cornerback prospect, he also has superior coverage ability and ball skills as well.

After an All-American performance in 2011, it's doubtful that many quarterbacks will be eager to test Amerson again this season.

That means that he won't have nearly as many chances to make a play on the ball in 2012.

Still, even if the talented junior corner's interception total drops considerably this season, Amerson's still done enough already to warrant being a top-10 pick in next year's NFL draft.

ESPN's Samantha Steele Will Have Everyone Asking, Erin Who?

Many male college football fans were heartbroken when they initially heard that reporter Erin Andrews would be leaving ESPN.

Andrews was a beloved figure in the college football world, and her presence on the sidelines during prime-time games will certainly be missed.

Luckily, there's a new talented, blond sideline reporter that fans can ogle in 2012, and her name is Samantha Steele.

Now, I'll be honest. Personally, I'm more of a Cassidy Hubbarth fan myself. But even I'll admit that Ms. Steele deserves some major praise for her work, and obviously, it doesn't hurt that she's particularly easy on the eyes.

Bjoern Werner Will Be a Force to Be Reckoned with

Florida State defensive end Bjoern Werner is one of college football's most intimidating defenders, and he's got the chance to become one of the sport's biggest star defenders of the upcoming season.

Last year, Werner stepped out of his teammate Brandon Jenkins' shadow and proved to be an equally disruptive difference maker for the Florida State defense.

The 6'4'', 260-pound junior used his incredible strength to overwhelm nearly anyone that tried to block him in 2011. He ended up finishing the season with seven sacks, 11 tackles for loss and eight pass knockdowns.

Werner is a German native who only played two years of high school football in the United States, and he hasn't even come close to reaching his full potential yet.

The powerful pass-rusher should grow into one of college football's most dominant defensive ends in 2012.

Purdue Will Pull off a Standings-Shaking Upset

Purdue probably isn't ready to contend for a Big Ten title this season, but the Boilermakers have the talent it takes to pull off an upset that could shake up the overall conference race in 2012.

With many key starters returning from last year, including future high NFL draft picks such as defensive tackle Kawann Short and cornerback Ricardo Allen, Purdue is definitely a team that no opponent will want to have to square off with this season.

Two of the conference's preseason favorites—Michigan and Wisconsin—will have to travel to West Lafayette in early October, and it wouldn't be surprising if one or even both of them ends up falling to an experienced and athletic Boilermakers squad.

Mike Glennon Will Catch the Attention of NFL Scouts

US PRESSWIREMike Glennon

Last year, Mike Glennon had some huge shoes to fill, stepping in for ACC Offensive Player of the Year Russell Wilson, who transferred to Wisconsin during the offseason. Nevertheless, Glennon managed to quietly put together one of the most solid performances of any quarterback in college football.

The 6'6'', 232-pound senior didn't receive much national recognition, but he did complete 62 percent of his passes for over 3,000 yards and 31 touchdowns and lead the Wolfpack to eight wins, including the school's second straight postseason victory.

Glennon is a tall, prototypical pro-style pocket passer who has the size, arm strength and intangibles for which NFL scouts are searching.

He could ultimately become a coveted commodity if he finishes his college career off with a strong senior season in 2012.

Florida vs. Georgia Will Be the Most Physical Game of the Season

In the words of legendary wrestling announcer Jim Ross, "This one's going to be a slobberknocker."

Georgia and Florida are two teams that despise each other, and that venom has resulted in some extremely physical games in recent years.

This year's matchup should be no different.

These are two of the toughest and most physical defenses that you're going to find in college football this season, and because of that, you're likely going to see some helmets flying around when the Bulldogs and Gators square off down in Jacksonville on Oct. 27.

Texas A&M Will Be Better Than You Think

Brett Davis-US PRESSWIREKevin Sumlin

It doesn't seem like many SEC fans are expecting league newcomer Texas A&M to be a big threat this season, and many publications picked the Aggies to finish near the bottom of the loaded West division in 2012.

Admittedly, losing starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill, the No. 8 overall pick of this year's NFL draft, as well as starting running back Cyrus Gray and wide receiver Jeff Fuller certainly hurts. But new head coach Kevin Sumlin will still have plenty of talent to work with this year.

RB Christine Michael and WR Ryan Swope will be two of the best offensive players in the conference. Plus, the offensive line, led by offensive tackles Luke Joeckel and Jake Matthews—two potential future first-round NFL draft picks—and senior center Patrick Lewis, will be one of the best units in the nation.

The defense may be a bit thin in the secondary, but the front seven, which features standouts such as defensive end Damontre Moore and linebackers Sean Porter and Jonathan Stewart, is definitely impressive.

If redshirt freshman quarterback Johnny Manziel can pick up the offense quickly, the Aggies could easily surpass their modest expectations in their first ever season in the SEC.

LSU’s Backfield Will Be a Juggernaut

LSU has the luxury of having four running backs on its roster—Spencer Ware, Michael Ford, Alfred Blue and Kenny Hilliard—that would each start for most other schools in the country.

There's no arguing that the Tigers have the deepest and most talented stable of running backs in the country for the 2012 season.

The team's rushing attack should be one of the most powerful and potent in college football this year.

After averaging 202 yards on the ground per game last season, it's likely that LSU will put up even bigger rushing totals in 2012, especially since it will have one of the best offensive lines in the country, led by potential All-American tackles Alex Hurst and Chris Faulk.

Ware, Ford, Blue and Hilliard are all big, strong, physical runners who should really wear down opposing defenses this season.

Tyler Bray Will Throw for over 4,000 Yards

Tyler Bray only played in seven games due to a thumb injury last season, yet he still managed to throw for 1,983 yards and 17 touchdowns.

Assuming that the 6'6'', 215-pound junior can stay healthy for a full season, he clearly has the arm talent to throw for over 4,000 yards this year.

Bray may miss his top target from last season—suspended receiver Da'Rick Rogers—but he should form a strong bond with junior receiver Justin Hunter in 2012.

The tall pro-style passer knows that this is a crucial season in which NFL scouts will be focusing on his performance every single week. Therefore, it should be very interesting to see how he responds to the pressure and if he can step up and make the most of his tremendous potential.

Mike Leach Will Provide the Best Quote of the Season

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-US PRESSWIREMike Leach

After sitting out two years following his messy departure from Texas Tech, Mike Leach has returned to the coaching spotlight, taking over a Washington State squad that has won just nine total games over the past four years.

If you're a true college football fan, then you know that Leach has never been the type of coach who's afraid to say what's really on his mind.

He's probably been advised to tone down his tongue just a bit given his controversial exit from the game back in 2009. Nevertheless, Leach should still provide some very entertaining quotes during his first season in Pullman since the Cougars are sure to have a few bad performances in 2012.

Dan Mullen Will Turn Tyler Russell into a Must-Watch Player

Mississippi State is still an off-the-radar program in the SEC, but the Bulldogs could really open some eyes and take a major step forward in 2012.

Since arriving before the 2009 season, head coach Dan Mullen has been trying to get the offense to resemble the powerful attack that he led at Florida, but he just hasn't had the quarterback that he's desperately needed.

Now, Tyler Russell will get the shot to prove that he can run the offensive show with efficiency.

Russell only completed 53 percent of his passes for over 1,000 yards last year, but he did show some very intriguing flashes of his natural ability at times.

The 6'4'', 220-pound junior is a former 4-star recruit who has the skills to become a dangerous playmaker under Mullen's tutelage.

With running back LaDarius Perkins and receivers Chad Bumphis, Arceto Clark, Chris Smith and Joe Morrow surrounding him, Russell has the talent at his disposal to become one of the biggest breakout stars in the SEC in 2012.

Notre Dame Will Receive Plenty of Publicity

Notre Dame is one of those schools that you either love or hate, and boy, the Irish have sure gained a whole lot of haters in recent years.

Many fans have simply grown sick of the media constantly pumping up the team into something it's not.

Third-year coach Brian Kelly was supposed to be the one who stabilized the program and returned it to national prominence, but instead, the Irish have won just eight games in each of the past two seasons.

Now, it's time for Kelly to either put up or shut up.

Since Notre Dame will be playing an insanely tough schedule that includes marquee matchups with big-name schools such as Michigan State, Michigan, Miami, Stanford, Oklahoma and USC, the Irish are again going to receive plenty of publicity this season.

TCU Will Prove It Can Handle BCS Competition

West Virginia may be the new Big 12 team that's receiving most of the preseason hype, but let's not forget about the league's other new addition, TCU.

The Horned Frogs have averaged 11 wins per season for the past seven years, and they've consistently been one of the strongest non-BCS programs during that time.

Now, Gary Patterson's squad will get the opportunity to prove its worth against some of the best competition that college football has to offer.

Even though the Horned Frogs return just 10 starters from last season, they have a bunch of players who could make a name for themselves in the conference this year.

QB Casey Pachall, RB Waymon James, WR Josh Boyce, OG Blaize Foltz, DE Stansly Maponga, LB Kenny Cain and CB Jason Verrett will be some of the best players at their respective positions in the league this season.

This team has the talent to beat anybody on its schedule in 2012. The question, though, is, can TCU handle the grind of having to battle a BCS foe every week, or will the Horned Frogs eventually get worn down by the bigger, faster, stronger opponents they'll have to deal with this season?

Keenan Allen Will Be the Pac-12's Top Receiver

Kelley L Cox-US PRESSWIREKeenan Allen

USC's Robert Woods was the Pac-12 receiver that garnered the most preseason publicity and attention this summer. However, Cal's Keenan Allen is actually the conference's premier pass-catcher for the 2012 season.

Allen is one of the most physically gifted receivers that we've seen at the college level in the last decade, and he'll enter the upcoming season with a ton of momentum after a stellar sophomore performance last year.

The 6'3'', 210-pound junior was one of the most productive receivers in the country in 2011, catching 98 passes for 1,343 yards and six touchdowns, even though he had to deal with inconsistent play from his half-brother, QB Zach Maynard.

If Maynard can improve his consistency this year, there's no telling what type of numbers Allen will put up in 2012.

There's no doubt that Allen has the potential to be a top-10 pick in the 2013 NFL draft, and he may just be the best overall receiver in college football this season.

Texas Will Have Three All-American Defensive Backs

Kirby Lee-US PRESSWIRECarrington Byndom

Last year, LSU had college football's most decorated defensive backfield, but this season, it will be Texas that puts out the best secondary in the country.

The Longhorns have one of college football's best cornerback combos, comprised of 6'0'', 180-pound junior Carrington Byndom and 5'10'', 200-pound sophomore Quandre Diggs, as well as one of the best safeties in the country in 6'1'', 218-pound senior Kenny Vaccaro.

Vaccaro and Byndom both have the potential to be high picks in the 2013 NFL draft, and Diggs also has a future playing on Sundays some day.

The Longhorns gave up just six yards per pass attempt last year, which ranked ninth in the nation.

The secondary should be even stronger in 2012, and Byndom, Diggs and Vaccaro should all receive national attention this season.

Miami Will Suffer Through a Rebuilding Season

Miami lost a ton of talent from a team that went just 6-6 last season, including six NFL draft picks.

The Hurricanes will be young and inexperienced at some key positions on both sides of the ball this season, which is why 2012 will likely end up being a rebuilding season.

With a schedule that includes Kansas State, Georgia Tech, N.C. State, Notre Dame, North Carolina, Florida State, Virginia Tech, Virginia and South Florida, it's tough to see this team matching last year's six-win total.

Still, even with possible sanctions looming from the Nevin Shapiro scandal, coach Al Golden has this team moving in the right direction, and a more experienced Hurricanes squad should be a factor in the conference once again in 2013.

Josh Boyce and Tavon Austin Will Be the Big 12’s New Star Receivers

The Big 12 lost its two biggest star receivers from the 2011 season—Justin Blackmon and Kendall Wright, who were both first-round picks in this year's NFL draft.

Luckily, the league is welcoming in two new potential stars for 2012—TCU's Josh Boyce and West Virginia's Tavon Austin, who should both be able to fill the voids left by Blackmon and Wright.

Boyce is a speedy 6'0'', 203-pound junior who caught 61 passes for 998 yards and nine touchdowns in 2011, while Austin is a 5'9'', 174-pound senior who finished with 101 receptions, 1,186 receiving yards and 11 total touchdowns last year.

The two explosive pass-catchers will now each be looking to make a name for themselves in their new league in 2012, and it shouldn't take long for either of them to make a major impact this season.

Georgia Tech Will Have the Most Productive Rushing Attack in the Country

Jason O. Watson-US PRESSWIREOrwin Smith

Georgia Tech has ranked either first or second in the nation in rushing offense in each of the past three seasons. Now, it looks like the Yellow Jackets should have the most productive ground game in the country in 2012.

Quarterback Tevin Washington and running backs Orwin Smith and David Sims are an exceptionally talented rushing trio that combined for nearly 2,300 rushing yards and 32 rushing touchdowns in 2011.

Tom Wort Will Knock Somebody Silly

I have a fondness for tough, physical, throwback-type middle linebackers who love to hit, and this year, one of my favorites is Oklahoma's Tom Wort.

After the departure of linebacker Travis Lewis, Wort will now be one of the key leaders of the Sooners defense in 2012, and he should thrive.

The 6'0'', 229-pound junior may not a super-sized middle 'backer, but he definitely knows how to find the football and knock down ball-carriers, which he proved last season by racking up 71 tackles and 3.5 sacks.

You can tell that Wort loves to hit and get physical, and he should really lay the wood in 2012.

All I know is that any time you've got the Ultimate Warrior taking time out of his day to give you motivational speeches, you've got to be one awesome dude.

The non-BCS prospect that will likely climb up draft boards this season is SMU DE Margus Hunt.

Hunt is a 6'8'', 280-pound senior who possesses a rare combination of size, athleticism and power that you just don't see very often.

His three-sack performance against Pittsburgh in the BBVA Compass Bowl this past January got everyone talking, and he's since gained quite a buzz in NFL scouting circles.

The Estonia import will likely be one of the most impressive "workout warriors" in the 2013 draft class, and by the time next April rolls around, it wouldn't be shocking if we're talking about Hunt as a potential top-15 NFL draft pick.

Maryland Will Be the Worst BCS Team

After leading Connecticut to the school's first ever BCS bowl game in 2010, coach Randy Edsall bolted Storrs for what he thought would be a better job at Maryland.

As it turned out, the Terps were abysmal in 2011, finishing just 2-10. Edsall has to be wondering what he got himself into, since he certainly doesn't appear to be a good fit for the program.

While the Terps may still gain attention for modeling Under Armour's awful uniforms this season, it's highly doubtful that they'll be able to improve on their win total in 2012, and they could easily end up being the worst BCS team of the season.

Baylor's Offense Will Still Be Explosive

Jerome Miron-US PRESSWIRERobert Griffin III and Art Briles

Baylor's offense lost the school's only Heisman winner, quarterback Robert Griffin III, and their all-time leading receiver, Kendall Wright, as well as last year's leading rusher, Terrance Ganaway. However, all hope is not lost.

Yes, it's true, the Bears offense will obviously miss RG3, Wright and Ganaway this season, but that doesn't mean that they still won't have plenty of firepower in 2012.

RB Lache Seastrunk, a former blue-chip recruit who sat out this past season after transferring from Oregon, looks like he could develop into a dynamic playmaker.

Plus, the Bears still have plenty of dangerous receivers such as Terrance Williams, Tevin Reese and Lanear Sampson.

New starting quarterback Nick Florence may not be in the same class as Griffin, but he's got a strong enough supporting cast to keep the Baylor offense producing at a high level in 2012.

Penn State Will End Its Season on a Positive Note with a Win over Wisconsin

Kim Klement-US PRESSWIREMichael Mauti

It's surely going to be a strange season at Penn State this fall. Team will likely experience plenty of bumps in the road and disappointing outcomes.

Since the NCAA decided to overstep its bounds and punish those who had nothing to do with the atrocities that were committed in years passed, there's now no light at the end of the tunnel for the Nittany Lions seniors due to the postseason ban imposed on the program.

Still, this is a group that has always played with pride, and players such as Jordan Hill, Gerald Hodges and Michael Mauti will make sure that their teammates are ready to compete every week.

With no chance of playing in a bowl game this year, the team's figurative "Super Bowl" will instead be the home finale against Wisconsin.

The Badgers really took it to a distracted and emotionally drained Penn State team last year, beating the Nittany Lions 45-7.

With revenge on their mind and the motivation to end the season on a high note, don't be surprised if Penn State ends up shocking Wisconsin on Senior Day in Happy Valley on Nov. 24.

Robert Nkemdiche’s Recruitment Will Turn into a Saga

DE Robert Nkemdiche will enter his senior season at Georgia's Grayson High School as the top-ranked prospect of the 2013 recruiting class.

There's no mystery about where he's going to play his college ball, though.

Back in June, Nkemdiche announced that he wants to play for Dabo Swinney and the Clemson Tigers.

As we've seen in years past, however, a verbal commitment is certainly not set in stone, as plenty of top-ranked players have switched schools before National Signing Day.

Nkemdiche received a lot of negative publicity over the summer after an article in the Atlanta Journal Constitution insinuated that he was trying to work out a package deal for his teammates to get scholarship offers from Clemson.

With so many recruiting rumors floating around from the message board crowd these days, it's hard to know what to believe anymore.

Still, one thing's for sure: No one would likely be surprised if Nkemdiche's recruitment turns into a bit of a soap opera in the months leading up to National Signing Day, especially since one of his other top suitors, Ole Miss, just so happens to be the school for which his older brother Denzel plays.

Duke Will Be Bowl Eligible

Josh D. Weiss-US PRESSWIRESean Renfree

Duke hasn't played in a bowl game since the 1994 season, when the Blue Devils lost to Wisconsin in the Hall of Fame Bowl. However, the team might just have the talent it needs to now win the necessary six games it takes to become bowl eligible in 2012.

This is the best overall team that fifth-year head coach David Cutcliffe has had during his tenure.

With a schedule that includes winnable games against FIU, NC Central, Memphis, Wake Forest, Virginia and Miami, Duke fans might just get the opportunity to finally take a postseason trip this season after waiting 18 long years.

Oregon State Will Rebound

Jim Z. Rider-US PRESSWIRESean Mannion

Oregon State had only experienced one losing season in the first seven years of coach Mike Riley's tenure in Corvallis. However, the Beavers have had losing seasons in each of the past two years, winning just eight total games during that time.

Last year's three-win performance, which included an overtime loss to FCS school Sacramento State, was a complete embarrassment for both Riley and his players. But the good news is that the team should be able to get back to its winning ways in 2012.

Fifteen starters return from last year, including the potentially explosive passing combination of QB Sean Mannion and WR Markus Wheaton.

While no one will be expecting the Beavers to contend with in-state rival Oregon in the Pac-12 North division this season, this is still a team that has the talent to make it back to the postseason and maybe even pull off a surprise upset in 2012.

Eddie Lacy Will Be Alabama’s Next Star Back

Marvin Gentry-US PRESSWIREEddie Lacy

Alabama has produced back-to-back running backs—Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson—who ended up being first-round NFL draft picks. The Tide might just be able to make it three in a row if new starter Eddie Lacy plays up to his potential in 2012.

Lacy has some big shoes to fill—Richardson ran for over 1,600 yards and scored 24 touchdowns in 2011—but he happens to be a terrific fit for Alabama's downhill power-rushing attack.

Last year, the sturdy 6'0'', 220-pound junior only carried the ball 95 times, but he made the most of his limited opportunities, averaging over seven yards per carry and scoring seven touchdowns.

Since he'll be running behind college football's most talented offensive line this season, Lacy will now have the chance to put up some huge numbers just like his predecessors, Richardson and Ingram, did.

With Lacy and fellow backs T.J. Yeldon, Jalston Fowler and Dee Hart all combining forces, Alabama should once again have one of the top-ranked rushing attacks in the country in 2012.

Tommy Tuberville Will Feel the Heat

Tommy Tuberville will enter his third season as Texas Tech's head coach with a lot to prove after the Red Raiders failed to make a bowl game last year for the first time since 1999.

The team received a ton of publicity for beating No. 1-ranked Oklahoma in Norman, but Tuberville's squad struggled down the stretch after that, losing its last five games, including a disgraceful 66-6 blowout home loss to Oklahoma State.

That kind of effort won't be tolerated in 2012, and if Tuberville can't turn things around, his figurative coaching seat is going to start to get pretty hot this season.

William Gholston Will Learn to Control His Emotions

Michigan State's William Gholston is one of the most talented defenders in college football.

He's also one of the sport's most fiery players. The problem is, he let his passion get the best of him when the Spartans squared off with in-state rival Michigan last season.

Gholston had two egregious personal fouls in that game, which left many onlookers to question his maturity and his sportsmanship.

As far as pure talent is concerned, the 6'7'', 278-pound junior certainly possesses the potential to be a first-round pick in the 2013 NFL draft. But first, he's going to have to prove to scouts that he's grown up and learned to channel his anger more constructively this season.

Hopefully, Gholston will be recognized for his outstanding pass-rushing skills in 2012 instead of his after-the-play antics.

Minnesota Will Start the Season 6-0

Minnesota has been a Big Ten cellar dweller in each of the past two seasons, as the Golden Gophers have won just three games each year. However, that could definitely change in 2012.

QB MarQueis Gray is one of the most underrated players in the country, and he could be ready to have a breakout performance this season.

The team's first six games are against UNLV, New Hampshire, Western Michigan, Syracuse, Iowa and Northwestern. If the Gophers manage to get on a roll, it wouldn't be surprising if they ended up winning six straight to start the season in a similar fashion as Illinois did last year.

The bad news is that the late-season schedule is a whole lot tougher, with matchups with Wisconsin, Purdue, Michigan, Illinois, Nebraska and Michigan State.

Still, even if the team finishes 6-6, Minnesota would have a shot to make it to its first bowl game since 2009, and coach Jerry Kill would certainly take that at this point.

Sharrif Floyd and Dominique Easley Will Be a Disruptive Duo

Florida defensive linemen Sharrif Floyd and Dominique Easley were two of the biggest names of the Gators' top-ranked 2010 recruiting class.

The two of them really started to play up to their enormous potential in 2011, as they combined for 83 tackles and three sacks last year.

Both players showed indications of their potential to develop into dominant difference makers in the trenches this season.

Floyd and Easley are two of the most athletic and versatile defensive linemen in the country, and they're the type of disruptive forces that could really make the Florida defense a special unit in 2012.

Louisville Will Let Teddy Bridgewater off the Leash

Last year, QB Teddy Bridgewater arrived at Louisville as a heralded 4-star recruit out of Miami powerhouse Northwestern High School, and he quickly proved to be deserving of the hype.

Bridgewater stepped into the starting role a few games into the season and ended up leading the Cardinals to a share of the Big East championship as a true freshman.

The 6'3'', 218-pound sophomore completed 64 percent of his passes for over 2,100 yards and threw 14 touchdown strikes. It was a performance which earned him numerous postseason accolades including freshman All-American honors.

Now that Bridgewater has proven that he can handle himself, the coaching staff should let him off the leash in 2012 in order to make full use of his superb physical ability.

Rich Rodriguez and Todd Graham Will Have Encouraging Debuts in the Desert

Chris Morrison-US PRESSWIRERich Rodriguez

Rich Rodriguez and Todd Graham are both thoroughly despised by their former teams' fanbases.

This offseason, though, the two head coaches have been welcomed with open arms at their new schools—Arizona and Arizona State.

After sitting out a year following a dreadful three-year stop at Michigan, Rodriguez looks re-energized and ready to turn the Arizona offense into a high-octane spread attack. Graham, on the other hand, hopes that he'll be at Arizona State for the long haul after making three previous head coaching stops since 2006.

While neither of their teams will have the talent it takes to compete for a conference championship in 2012, both Rodriguez and Graham should be able to show encouraging flashes of what's to come under their watch to please fans and quiet their critics this season.

Ole Miss Will Lose Every SEC Game

After finishing 1-7 in SEC play in 2010, the Ole Miss Rebels hit a new low last season, finishing 0-8 against league competition.

Sadly, it looks like the team is destined for the same fate again in 2012.

New head coach Hugh Freeze was a solid choice to come in and rebuild the program, but right now, he just doesn't have the talent to compete with the rest of the conference.

With a brutal conference schedule that includes Alabama, Texas A&M, Auburn, Arkansas, Georgia, Vanderbilt, LSU and Mississippi State, Rebel fans better have plenty of bourbon and scotch on hand at their tailgates, because it's going to be another long, embarrassing season.

Josh Huff Will Finally Play Up to His Potential

Oregon fans have been waiting for WR Josh Huff to put together a breakout season since he first arrived in Eugene as a highly-touted 4-star recruit out of Texas' Nimitz High School back in 2010.

Huff has yet to come close to living up to his full potential, however, as he's combined to catch just 50 passes for 733 yards and five touchdowns in his first two seasons.

Now, the athletic 5'11'', 205-pound junior will be expected to be the team's go-to receiver in 2012.

If he can stay healthy and focused, Huff should finally be able to put his tremendous physical skills to good use this season.

New starting quarterback Marcus Mariota is going to need a clutch receiver that he can rely on in the passing game, and Huff seems like he's ready to finally develop into the dependable weapon that Ducks fans have been hoping for.

Louisiana Tech Will Pull off an Early-Season Surprise

Kirby Lee-US PRESSWIREColby Cameron

Louisiana Tech faces three BCS opponents—Texas A&M, Illinois and Virginia—within the first few weeks of the season. All three teams better come to play, because the Bulldogs are not a team to be taken lightly.

Potential standouts QB Colby Cameron and WR Quinton Patton will be the leaders of what should be one of the strongest passing attacks in the country in 2012.

Plus, there are plenty of other difference makers sprinkled all over the field, with the most notable examples being NFL prospects OT Jordan Mills and DT Justin Ellis.

The boys from Ruston gave TCU all it could handle in last year's Poinsettia Bowl, and they will likely pull off at least one major early-season upset in 2012.

Kansas’ Defense Won’t Be a Complete Disaster

John Rieger-US PRESSWIREBradley McDougald

You literally would not have been able to find a defense that was worse than the one Kansas put out on the field last season. The Jayhawks somehow managed to rank dead-last in the nation in both scoring defense and total defense, as they gave up an average of 43 points and 516 yards per game last season.

What was so surprising about the unit's absolutely embarrassing performance was the fact that Kansas actually had some quality defensive players such as safety Bradley McDougald, edge-rusher Toben Opurum and linebackers Steven Johnson, Tunde Bakare and Darius Lewis.

The problem was, the defense just could not figure out how to play together, which is something that new head coach Charlie Weis and coordinator Dave Campo hopefully focused on this offseason.

Kansas will by no means have a great defense this year. But with veterans like McDougald, Opurum and Bakare back to lead the way, the Jayhawks should at least be able to avoid another disastrous performance in 2012.

Tony Jones Will Be Colorado’s Bright Spot

Russ Isabella-US PRESSWIRETony Jones

Last year, Colorado ranked last in the Pac-12 in scoring offense and next to last in total offense, averaging just 19 points and 346 yards per game in 2011.

With a new quarterback and an inexperienced group of wide receivers, it doesn't look like the Buffaloes offense will be much better this season. There is, however, at least one player who will be worth watching in 2012, and that's running back Tony Jones.

Jones didn't get the chance to really prove himself as a freshman last season, as he was forced to spell senior Rodney Stewart, who received the majority of the carries.

Now that Stewart's gone, though, the former 3-star recruit out of New Jersey powerhouse Don Bosco Prep will finally have the opportunity to show what he's made of in 2012.

Derek Carr Will Lead the Nation in Passing

Ten of the 20 most productive passers from the 2011 season are gone, but Fresno State's Derek Carr, who ranked 15th in the nation with 3,544 passing yards last year, will be back.

Carr attempted just 446 passes during his sophomore campaign, which was the fifth-lowest total of those top 20 passers behind Robert Griffin III (402), Andrew Luck (404), Tyler Wilson (438) and Kellen Moore (439).

This year, though, Carr's total number of attempts will likely increase as he becomes the trigger man of new coordinator Dave Schramm's spread-style offense.

The 6'3'', 205-pound junior is one of the best pure passers in college football, and now that Fresno State is expected to throw the ball more often this season, he'll have the opportunity to put up huge passing numbers.

Here's a look at 15 other quarterbacks that will vie to be the top passer of 2012.

Giovani Bernard Will Lead the Nation in Rushing

North Carolina may not be eligible to win the ACC championship or play in the postseason this year, but the Tar Heels are certainly still going to be worth watching in 2012.

The one player to really focus on this season will be explosive running back Giovani Bernard.

After returning from a knee injury that kept him out his entire freshman year, Bernard played like he had something to prove last season, as he rushed for 1,253 yards on just 239 carries, caught 45 passes for 362 yards and scored 14 touchdowns.

The 5'10'', 205-pound redshirt sophomore is clearly one of the most dangerous offensive weapons in college football.

Bernard has a chance to truly shine behind a North Carolina offensive line that will be one of the strongest units in college football this season, and he should be able to put up some big rushing totals in 2012.

Here's a look at 15 other running backs that will be looking to take home the rushing title in 2012.

Logan Thomas Will Be the No. 1 Pick of the 2013 NFL Draft

Jeff Blake-US PRESSWIRELogan Thomas

Although the 2013 NFL draft won't technically take place until late next April, almost four months after the college football season is over, the 2012 season will be the stage for prospects to show off their skills. It's likely that we'll probably know who the No. 1 pick will be by the time the season ends.

USC QB Matt Barkley will start off as the consensus favorite to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2013 draft. However, it wouldn't be surprising if Barkley were eventually surpassed by another talented signal-caller by the time the season's over, especially if he fails to lead the Trojans to a Pac-12 title.

The one top quarterback prospect that will be the most intriguing to watch this season is Virginia Tech's Logan Thomas.

Thomas is the type of big, athletic, dual-threat quarterback that possesses all the skills to develop into an elite pro prospect, similar to recent top prospects such as Robert Griffin III and Cam Newton.

The 6'6'', 260-pound junior has the size, arm strength, athleticism and overall playmaking ability that scouts are looking for.

If he continues to refine his accuracy, work on his decision making and develop his all-around game, there's no telling just how high Thomas' stock could climb this season.

If he leads the Hokies to an ACC championship and shows that he can put the offense on his shoulders, he could even end up being the No. 1 overall pick of the 2013 NFL draft.

"With the No. 1 pick in the 2013 NFL draft, the Arizona Cardinals select Logan Thomas, quarterback, Virginia Tech," is a statement that you could hear come out of Roger Goodell's mouth next April.

Barkevious Mingo Will Be the No. 2 Pick of the 2013 NFL Draft

Derick E. Hingle-US PRESSWIREBarkevious Mingo

With so many NFL teams now currently employing either a base 3-4 defense or certain 3-4 defensive packages, light and explosive edge-rushers are becoming some of the most coveted commodities in the draft.

One standout collegiate pass-rusher who perfectly fits the mold of a future 3-4 outside linebacker is LSU's Barkevious Mingo.

Mingo, who racked up eight sacks and 15 tackles for loss in his first year as a starter in 2011, has only been playing organized football since his junior year in high school, and he's still noticeably raw and unrefined.

Still, his natural physical gifts are simply remarkable, and you can bet that scouts have already taken notice.

The 6'5'', 240-pound junior still needs to add some bulk to his slight frame, but he's clearly got the physical makeup and skill set to become the top 3-4 rush linebacker prospect in the 2013 draft class.

Even though I expect big things from rookie quarterback Andrew Luck, I still believe that the Indianapolis Colts will end up with the No. 2 pick in next year's NFL draft, and they could certainly use a young pass-rusher like Mingo to groom for the future.

Matt Barkley Will Be the No. 3 Pick of the 2013 NFL Draft

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-US PRESSWIREMatt Barkley

If Matt Barkley had declared for the 2012 NFL draft like many were expecting, he would have almost certainly been the No. 3 overall pick, most likely going to the Miami Dolphins, who would have traded up to get him.

That means that even if Barkley doesn't end up as the No. 1 overall pick next year but still ends up in the top three, then it would be tough to say that returning to USC for another season was a bad decision.

The 6'2'', 230-pound senior has had an outstanding career with the Trojans, and he has all of the physical skills and leadership intangibles to be a franchise signal-caller at the next level.

While he may not be a so-called "sure thing" like his former conference counterpart Andrew Luck, Barkley would make a team like the Oakland Raiders very happy if they could scoop him up with the third overall pick in next year's NFL draft.

Alabama Will Beat LSU

Neither of the two matchups between last year's two top-ranked teams, Alabama and LSU, came close to living up to the hype, especially that atrocious BCS championship game.

Something tells me, though, that this year's showdown in Baton Rouge on Nov. 3 will definitely make up for last year's snoozefests.

The Tigers and the Tide have both been somewhat weakened on the defensive side of the ball since last season, which means that we should see a few more offensive fireworks from both teams this time around.

Who knows if the two squads will be undefeated when they square off this year, but it obviously wouldn't be surprising if this game had national championship implications on the line.

When all is said and done, Alabama will prove to be the superior team. The Tide's coaching staff are simply better across the board, and they'll have the players ready for the stress they'll face from the rowdy crowd at Tiger Stadium.

Oregon Will Beat USC

Alabama vs. LSU may be the most anticipated game of the 2012 season, but it just so happens that the second-biggest game of the year—Oregon at USC—will take place on the same day.

After last year's 38-35 defeat at home, the Ducks will have revenge on their minds when they head to Los Angeles this season.

Oregon's offense will have had two months to gel, and it should be ready to explode on the big stage.

USC's defense will be improved in 2012, but the question is, will the Trojans be able to slow down quarterback Marcus Mariota, running backs Kenjon Barner and De'Anthony Thomas and wide receiver Josh Huff?

The answer to that question is no. On Nov. 3, Oregon will prove that it's still the best team in the Pac-12 by knocking off the preseason favorite Trojans.

SMU Will Win Conference USA

Chuck Cook-US PRESSWIREZach Line

I originally wanted to pick Houston to win the Conference USA title this season, thinking that the Cougars had not just the talent (even after losing QB Case Keenum and WR Patrick Edwards) but also the motivational factor after being embarrassed in last year's conference championship game and watching head coach Kevin Sumlin move on to bigger and better things.

Then, however, I began looking at this SMU team, and I became very impressed with what the Mustangs were bringing to the table.

Sure, Garrett Gilbert is a crapshoot at quarterback, but running back Zach Line is one of the toughest players you're going to find in college football, and receiver Darius Johnson knows how to produce at a high level.

On defense, they've got standouts such as defensive end Margus Hunt and linebackers Taylor Reed and Ja'Gared Davis.

I've always liked June Jones as a head coach, and I think he's assembled a talented group down in Dallas that should definitely be able to compete with the likes of Houston, Central Florida, Southern Miss and Tulsa for a C-USA championship in 2012.

When the Broncos head back to Reno on Dec. 1, I expect the conference championship to be on the line, and ultimately, I think the Wolf Pack will have something to celebrate again this year just like they did on that memorable night back in 2010.

South Florida Will Win the Big East

Douglas Jones-US PRESSWIREB.J. Daniels

It's not often that you say a team that finished just 5-7 actually had the talent to win its conference, but that was the case with South Florida last season.

The Bulls had the talent to compete for a Big East title in 2011. The problem was, they just couldn't figure out how to close out games, as five of the team's seven losses last season came by just six points or less.

If Daniels can finally figure out how to play up to his potential on a consistent basis in 2012, South Florida should be able to top Louisville in what will likely be a heated race to the school's first ever BCS bowl game.

Michigan State Will Win the Big Ten

Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska and Wisconsin appear to be the four top contenders for the Big Ten championship going into the 2012 season.

All four teams have intriguing talent on both sides of the ball, but the squad that has the best shot to win the conference crown this year is last year's Legends Division winner, Michigan State.

The Spartans may have lost veteran three-year starting quarterback Kirk Cousins, as well as receivers B.J. Cunningham, Keshawn Martin and Keith Nichol, but they welcome back the league's best defense and one of the top running backs in the country, Le'Veon Bell.

New starting quarterback Andrew Maxwell doesn't have to be a star for the team to win 11 games again in 2012. He just has to be efficient and realize that he'll have a great running game and defense to rely on.

Michigan State will have to play both Michigan and Wisconsin on the road in consecutive weeks near the end of October, but the rest of the conference schedule is definitely manageable.

If the Spartans beat the Wolverines and Badgers, there's no reason that they shouldn't end up back in Indianapolis with a shot at a Rose Bowl berth.

Virginia Tech Will Win the ACC

There appear to be two legitimate contenders in each of the ACC's two divisions this season.

In the Atlantic Division, Clemson and Florida State will slug it out for supremacy, while Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech will battle for bragging rights in the Coastal Division.

After a hard-fought season, ultimately, Florida State and Virginia Tech will end up in the conference championship game in Charlotte.

It seems that the Seminoles have the more talented overall team on paper, but the Hokies have proven in years past that they know how to find ways to win. Coach Frank Beamer has won four conference championships and six division titles since guiding Virginia Tech into the ACC back in 2004, and he'll have another championship-caliber group in 2012.

QB Logan Thomas is one of the best quarterbacks in the country, and the Hokies defense is loaded with playmakers at all three levels.

If Thomas can take the next step in his development this season, it's tough to see any other team in the conference knocking off the Hokies in 2012.

Oregon Will Win the Pac-12

Kyle Terada-US PRESSWIREOregon Ducks

Oregon has won three straight conference championships and 34 total games during the Chip Kelly era, yet the Ducks won't enter the 2012 season as the league favorites, even though they're coming off an impressive Rose Bowl victory.

Instead, USC has now become the media's favorite once again, which is just fine with Kelly and his players.

Kelly knows that even without QB Darron Thomas and RB LaMichael James, he still has the offensive firepower to compete with any team in the country this year.

Unlike recent Oregon teams, what makes these Ducks so dangerous is the strength of the defense.

DE Dion Jordan, FS John Boyett, LB Michael Clay, CB Terrance Mitchell and DT Taylor Hart are some of the best players at their respective positions in the country, and they'll form a solid defensive nucleus in 2012.

With new starting quarterback Marcus Mariota and running backs Kenjon Barner and De'Anthony Thomas taking over, the Oregon offense will still have the explosive athletes it needs to light up defenses once again this season.

These days, it's almost impossible to win four consecutive conference championships, but the Ducks have the talent on both sides of the ball to pull it off in 2012.

Alabama Will Win the SEC

Ronald Martinez/Getty ImagesNico Johnson

This offseason, Alabama has had to figure out how to replace eight NFL draft picks, including four first-round selections. However, with the way Nick Saban and his staff have recruited in recent years, there are plenty of talented reinforcements who have been awaiting their shot to shine.

The offense will obviously miss the presence of last year's third-place Heisman vote-getter, RB Trent Richardson. However, the Tide should be fine with a deep stable of backs, led by Eddie Lacy, running behind the strongest offensive line in the nation, led by Outland Trophy winner Barrett Jones.

On defense, Mark Barron, Courtney Upshaw, Dont'a Hightower and Dre Kirkpatrick will all be missed, but there's more than enough talent to put together another top-10 defense in 2012.

NT Jesse Williams, DE Damion Square, LBs Nico Johnson and C.J. Mosley, CB Dee Milliner and SS Robert Lester will all be joining their former teammates in the pros some day soon.

You simply won't find a more talented or a better-coached team in the nation than Alabama this season.

If second-year starting quarterback A.J. McCarron can transform from game manager into true offensive leader, it's tough to see any other SEC team taking down the Tide in 2012.

LSU, Georgia, South Carolina, Florida and Arkansas all have the talent to make a legitimate run, but in the end, Alabama will prove too powerful.

A.J. McCarron Will Win the Heisman Trophy

A quarterback has won 10 of the last 12 Heisman trophies, and that trend will continue in 2012.

As we've seen in years past, it obviously never hurts to be the quarterback of the No. 1-ranked team in the country, which bodes well for Alabama's A.J. McCarron.

McCarron may not be the best player in college football. Nevertheless, if he leads the Tide back to the BCS Championship Game again this season and puts up impressive numbers along the way, he should definitely earn the respect of voters.

Oregon super-weapon De'Anthony Thomas may be the best overall player in college football, but McCarron could be the one who ends up taking home the hardware when all is said and done.

Here's a look at the five players who will end up in New York City for the Heisman ceremony in December.

Oklahoma Will Beat Florida State in the Fiesta Bowl

Oklahoma has participated in three of the last six Fiesta Bowls, but the Sooners have won just one of those matchups.

They'll be looking to improve their success in the desert with a victory over ACC Atlantic division winner Florida State in January.

The Sooners will probably slip up once this season, knocking them out of the BCS Championship conversation, but the team should still be able to win the Big 12 title and make it into the Fiesta Bowl.

QB Landry Jones, the Offensive MVP of the 2011 Fiesta Bowl, will be looking to end his career on a positive note and improve his draft stock, and he'll try his best to really toast the Florida State secondary in this one.

USC Will Beat Michigan State in the Rose Bowl

Jason O. Watson-US PRESSWIREMatt Barkley

Even if USC fails to win the Pac-12, I still wouldn't be shocked if the Trojans got a BCS bowl invitation as long as they manage to qualify in the top 14 of the final rankings, just as Michigan and Virginia Tech did last year.

If Pac-12 champion Oregon makes it to the BCS championship game, the Rose Bowl would love to have USC as a fallback team to pair against Big Ten champion Michigan State.

The Spartans haven't been to a Rose Bowl since 1988, while the Trojans have been to five since 2004.

Ultimately, QB Matt Barkley will be looking to put a nice cap on his college career.

More importantly, Barkley will also be looking to impress NFL scouts one final time, which should give the Trojans the extra boost they need in front of a predominantly West Coast crowd.